SIXTY teenagers are gathering to deliberate and debate the big issues affecting Leicestershire's young people.

The 'Unheard Voices' event this Thursday (20th) - arranged by Leicestershire County Council - shines a light on their views and achievements and features displays of creative projects completed by young people over the last year.

Members of the county youth council, CYCLe, will host the 'vox box' debates which will include:-

• Equal marriage – every couple deserves the right to marry • Should voting be compulsory, to combat political apathy?

This helps young people practice their debating skills ahead of the UK Youth Parliaments (UKYP) 'Make Your Mark' campaign and debates in the House of Commons in November.

Eighteen-year-old Poppie Simmonds is a member of CYCLe and a UKYP rep for Blaby. She said: “Unheard Voices is our opportunity to showcase how young people are actively involved in having their say in services that are provided for them.

"This can be anything from saying what they want, to highlighting the problems and issues that they face. The vox box event is a way of showing what CYCLe and UKYP do, and getting young people involved in debating national issues, hopefully with a view to joining us on a more regular basis.”

Ivan Ould, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and young people, said: "It's important that we listen to our young people and that they help to set the agenda.

"The projects exhibited are inspirational and as well as underlining their talent and creativity, they demonstrate how engaged our young people are and the difference they are making to people's lives."

Projects on display include:

• a short film created by the 'children in care council' during a trip to Auschwitz this spring • voice work carried out with groups of young travellers, young carers, young people with disabilities, black and minority ethnic groups, young parents, LGBT groups

• CYCLe and UKYP also link with other forums who will be displaying such as health agencies and the Children’s Society

CYCLe is supported by Leicestershire County Council Youth Service, and brings together UKYP reps and other young people to ensure they have a voice. Through it, young people award grants, consult with agencies, organise events and campaign on issues.

They also support the county's UKYP reps whose role is to shine a spotlight on the concerns and needs of other young people.

Since taking up their two-year role in May last year, the UKYP members have spoken to councillors, students and council officers and met MPs and Government ministers and other local, regional and national decision makers.

Every November, they voice their views in a prestigious national debate at the House of Commons about the issues most important to young people.